Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-02-15
MoREsNET.
Independent European State Three
Miles Square With Two
Thousand Inhabitants.

Ninety-nine readers out of hun
dred have perhaps meyer even heard
the name of Moresnet yet il is an in
dependent State, standing in its own
grounds or rather better than that
three square miles and numbering
about two thousand Inhabitants. BY
the side of Moresnet the Republic of
Andorre is great Power and the
Principally of Monaco a gigantic
Empire. The two thousand inhabi-
tants of Moresnot live under the pa
ternal rule of a sovereign who con-
tents himself with the modest title of
Burgomastes; heis, however, as alb
solute a monarch, in his way, as the
Car. 1t must be admitted that the
territory of Moresnet is an anomaly
in the political system and it is not
surprising that its immediate neigh
bors, big Germany and little Belgium
have lately been animated by desire
TO cut the miniature State in two and
ego halves" after pursuing a policy
Of non-intervention for seventy-one
years. AT the last moment and when
the work of partition seemed about
to begin a difference of opinion arose,
and now Moresnet is safe-for the
present.
This comparatively unknown State
is situated midway between Verviers
and Aix-la- Chapelle, in beautiful
valley, watered by a correspondiHgly
tiny river, bearing the terrible name
of La Gueuie (The Jaw,) and running
into lake, overshadowed by an old
castle said to date back from the time
ofCharlemagne. There are zinc mines
in the district, worked by the Societe
de la Vielle Montague. In 1915,
when the map of Europe was re-
arranged. the frontiers of Prussia
and Belgium were settled. No diff
ficulty presented itself until the new
mapmakers came TO the zinc mine,
which was claimed by both countries.
Endless pourparlers ensned, but
nothing came Of them. Both States
had equal rights; but in those days
Prussia did not solve problems by
force, and Moresnet was allowed to
remain neutral, independent terri
tory. Since the Waterloo year the
natural aspect of things has greatly
changed. Only few miserable
novels formerly surrounded the mine,
but to-day the land is well cultivated
and productive. The fifty mean
buildings OF 1915 have become 800,
some of which are large warehouses
stored with agricultural produce
For FORMS sake, Belgium and Prussia
nominate a commissioner charged
with the settlement of any difficulties
which may cropup. The representa-
tive of Belgium is NJ. Cramer, homo
rary President of tho Verviers Law
Court, and he has discharged the
light duties pertaining to his office of
Commissaire for upward of forty
years. Happy folk ofneutral Mores-
notl They have no taxes TO pay for
the military protection of their toy
country, and know nothing what
ever of elections or electioneering.
There are no "parties," no political
struggles, simply because nobody has
a vote. The ten Councillors of Mores-
net are nominated by the Burgomas-
ter; there is no objection to the men
of his choice, and the Council meet
ings are invariably characterized by
the utmost manimity. When an
ambitious native wants TO be made
Burgomaster he goes Off to interview
the Prussian and Belgian Commits
sioners, shows them "what he is
WORTH" runs through the catalogue
of his qualifications and if the two
representatives of the Powers agree,
as they usually do, our friend is APP
pointed Burgomaster for life, and
may say, with Alexander Selkirk-
am monarch Of all | survey;
My right there IS none to dispute.
There have been in all five Burgo-
masters of Moreslet. The present
holder of the office is NJ. Schmetz,
who has presided over the destinies
of the little State for the last two
years. The Burgomaster is emphati-
cally ga good sort'-robust, stout,
ruddy of cheek, occupying a pretty
house, with a lovely view. His
worship will take pleasure in show
ing you the land register (caddstre)
and the Council G hamber, containing
the portraits of his predecessors and
when his official day is over he be-
takes himselfto the little Wrth-shQIt,
digniiled by the title of casino, in the
arbor of which he drinks his chope
as he contemplates the waters of the
lake in front of him. Here he is
joined by his deputy, an
old doctor, as "chirpy" as the Burgo-
himself, with a quantity of
stories at his fingers ends. If only
all statesmen resembled M. Schmetz
and his worthy ddjoint, what
pleasant game politics would be to
play at, TO be surel The initiative in
everything rests with the Burgo-
master, who reminds one of the SOW
origins of mOyen age dispensing JUS
tice from under a tree. The legal |
rode in operation is that of 1874 the |
Innovations, improvements and mod. |
introduced into the judica-
lures of Prussia, Holland and Belgi- |
um since that date are so much waste |
paper for Moresnet, With 1900 |
francs (eiS0) of revenue Moresnet
keeps its highwaysin repair, supports
lis schools pays its armed force, com
posed, let us add, of one individual,
who is both General and soldier.
This militarie wears a uniform and a
Prussian cap, ornamented with the
doresnet cockade, and is generally TO
,e found at the Cafe des Carpiniers,
0 the gardens whereof the burgeois
{ Aix-la-Chappelle resort on
undays TO make merry over the
lther insipid wine of the country.